RE: virus: Leaded gas, racial differences, IQ, and crime

From: Jonathan Davis (jonathan.davis@lineone.net)
Date: Wed May 26 2004 - 09:51:11 MDT

  • Next message: rhinoceros: "virus: Re:Leaded gas, racial differences, IQ, and crime"

    This is interesting, but as the author points out correlation does not
    establish cause, also, we need to see evidence that Blacks have higher lead
    levels, the Flynn effect affects all groups, the score differences are also
    found in the UK where black immigrants were often housed in the same if not
    superior housing as whites.

    I am certain the explanation is environmental or cultural, but I think this
    one is a long shot.

    Regards

    Jonathan

    -----Original Message-----
    From: owner-virus@lucifer.com [mailto:owner-virus@lucifer.com] On Behalf Of
    rhinoceros
    Sent: 26 May 2004 16:07
    To: virus@lucifer.com
    Subject: virus: Leaded gas, racial differences, IQ, and crime

    I am forwarding this snip from another mailing list. Any comments?

    <begin quote>
    There is ANOTHER hypothesis for the time course of Black-White differences
    in standardized test scores leading to a quite noticeable change by 1990. It
    is well known that uptake of lead lowers IQ scores and school performance
    (as I've confirmed with town data on MCAS standardized tests in multiple
    subjects and grades). Equally evidence, Blacks -- due to lactose intolerance
    as well as diets poor in calcium and old housing with lead paint -- tend to
    have higher lead levels than whites in the same environment.

    What is NOT generally known is that lead has especially harmful prenatal
    effects, and that lead can be a factor in loss of impulse control and
    violent crime. My published data show that sales of leaded gas are highly
    correlated with the decline in U.S. county level rates of violent crime that
    peaked in 1991. But BEWARE: sales in the same year as the crime is recorded
    are not correlated. In contrast, if violent crime is lagged 18 years or 19
    years, the correlation is about 0.97. Prenatal exposure to lead is
    therefore a plausible hypothesis for changes in Black performance.

    roger d masters
    <end quote> 

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